Special edition of "Labor", weekly 4-page paper of 15 standa~d rail­ road brotherhoods being circula ted in behalf of Senator Shipstead.

The first copy has been received by Harry Bender, Chairman of the State Legislative Committee for the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks , who h8s taken a leave of bsence to~devote full time to the Shipstead oampaign up to July 8th. He normally arks fQ( the Great No rthern Railroad. Bender says 25 , 000 copies of the sheet will be distributed in Minnesota to all railroad workers and to railway mail olerks first , and the bal anoe for general house-to-house distr1bution. The paper is issued under a da teline of Washington, D. C., June 22. The front page also pOints out that it i s being paid for by the r ailroad brotherhoods.

It has a front page editorial in behalf of Shlpstead signed by the presidents of the 15 brotherhood organiza tions. These signAtures do not include Whitney and Johnson, heads of the brotherhoods that struok a few ~e ek8 ago. The front page heading reads : tehipstead Enti tled to Vi ctory. Ne ver Deserted Peoples' Interests." A smaller headline r eads: "First of all a farmer, but he seeks justi ce f or every class." It states to the effect that the coopera tive movement 1s safeguarded by Shipste d , that he 1s the father of the REA , and a sturdy defender of it. It has a tribute from Bill Green in a l ett er to Ge orge Lawson and R story about Shipst~ad battling ~ for fair f arm prices. There is also a stor¥. highlight ng:his Norwegiqn ancestry. It h s endorsements from Senator EdWin C. Johnson. Demoorat of Colorado and from Sen tor Arthur Oapper, Republi can of Kans s . It has a story ~bout' Shipstead ftghtlng to save the M & St.L Railroad. It has a story Whi ch says his record of aid to veter Rns is per fect. It contains a copy of " his keynote speech. Favorable quotations from ,the state papers and an account of Shipstead's support for o~d age pensions are contained. The same kind of thing has been done by the same groups in Shlpstead 's past campaigns. -2-

Our friend Joe Ball really threw a bombshell by his actions, but time alone will tell what results will be concerning his political future. Personally, I think that while. he created a terrific enmity within the Republican Party that so far as he is concerned personally, if renomin­ ated he will not lose any votes in a general election.

Of course, Ed Thye won in a walk and carried most of the Re­ publicans with him.

I was over at the Capitol the other day and saw Les Badger who is just recovering from pneumonia but apparently feeling pretty good. Fred Hughes, Ernie Messner, and Paul Albrecht were all looking fine and apparently feeling good. I am planning to go over to St. Paul again in the near future, and I am going to make it a point to drop in and see Esther and say hello. I have seen Vi and her husband and Elmer and Venice not too long ago, and they were all feeling good at that time.

You perhaps know that they are reopening the big plant at Rosemount and reopening some sections again at New Breighton, although labor is pretty short in this area at this time.

I see bob Smith once in awhile, and as you know, he is Vice President of Investors Syndicate in charge of sales and has quite a job on his hands. He is working hard, however, and I think he is going to do a good job. I saw Charlie Stone awhile baCk, and he has bought a house in south Minneapolis within the past year. I think Charlie is doing a very good job as Deputy Commissioner of Taxation.

I saw Maurie Hursh who is looking fine, and I often wish I had his even going temperament. As you know, they have four children, and Mrs. Hursh was in the hospital with TB not only of the lungs but, as I understand it, it permeated her entire system. I don't believe they expected her to live, but she made a miraculous recovery and is back home doing her housework once again.

I don't know of any other particulaT news, Harold, that would be interesting to you but will try to write you again in the not too dis­ tant future. I know you are busy, but if you ever have time, I would certainly enjoy having a line from you. In the meantime, I hope that you succeed in keeping a piece of dry hulk under your feet and that the best the Japs can do on your ship is a far miss. Please accept my very best wishes for a safe and speedy return. SOMEWHERE I H THE SOU T H PACIFIC

WELCOME BACK COMSOPAC

He's home again from the hunting; Though it's not the season's end, He has bagged this sortie' s limit As he will again, my friend. You see, it's open season And traps are never barred, In this hunt it's hit often, Hit fast, and hit 'em hard. He started off the fracas, Not by remote control, He went right in to rout 'em And run 'em up a pole. Now that he's got it going And it is running jake, He's back to scheme another And bigger Jap headache. So, one of these fine mornings Old Tojo's going to learn That Admiral Halsey means it When he says, til' 11 call the turn. n

Harold C. Fox, Ylc, USN My Dear Harold:

I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am to you for your last letter. It hanpened to arrive on a day . vihich had been a little dhficult-- as you have guessed the snipers have been aiming their shots with telling accuracy. I don't mind what they think of me-- but I wouldn't want to hurt Joe or you. And for you as well as Joe to understand so completely means a great deal to me.

I have a feeling from various people I have talked to that the other party takes our candidate more seriously than his own. Which shows how good he must be! But I know he is being talked about a lot at various gatherings and over the tea-cups-- which is all to the good. I have always felt that is a darn good way of doing the trick.

With my best-- .t' young l!hglish officer put up at a famous Park Avenue hotel, neglecting to ask the room rate first, On his departure, he was . i'? given his bill. rie gazed at it a moment and then sought the : cashier. !lAm I correct," he asked , "in assuming that suggestions from your patrons are welcome?" "They certainly are,11 said the ca shi ere ''H a snt t eVerything been sAtisvactory?" . "Everything has been fine," said the of'ficer, 'but I have noticed that you have a sign posted in your rooms 1.vhich reads, ''HaVE you left anything?" Change the sign to read, "Have you anything lert ~~. ~~ ~ ~1J ~ C1J , ~ ~ . (j~&.:t:g~K~ · 1'-~/ - - 1~:nu- ~~/ ~ ~ ~! l+-~ , ff~ ~ :~+~.~~~~~~»- ~~~~r$~,,_~· r)!~ . . ~/C--r-:r LL ~~~~~ ~~/~~.· ~~

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DOUG'S CO MMUNI Q,UE For two long years, since -blood and tears have been so very rife; Confusion in our war news, burdens more a soldier's life. But from this chaos, daily, like a hospice on the way, Like a shining light to guide us, rises Doug's Communique.

For should vIe fail to get the mail t if prisoners won't talk, If radios are indisposed and carrier pigeons walk, VTe have no fear because we'll hear tomorrow's news today And see our operations plan in Doug's COhlmunique. Here, too, is told the saga bold, of virile deathless youth In stories seldom tarnished vlith the plain unvarnished truth. It's quite a rag. it the flag, its motif is the fray, - And modesty is plain to see, in Doug's Cormnunique. "My battleships bombard the Nips from l·1aine to Singapore. My subs have sunk a million tons, they'll sink a billion more. My aircraft bombed Berlin -last night. 17 In Italy they saY flOur turn's tonight, beca e it f S right in Doug's Coramunique. , 1 , ftMy armored tanks have mowed his ranks. so Rommel's gone to hide. And the frozen Steppes of Russia see my wild Don Cossacks ride. My brave beleaguered Chetniks make the Axis sweat and paylt It's got to be, it's what 'v,.,e see in Doug's Communique. His area is quite cosmic, and capricious as a breeze; Ninety times as big as Texas, bigger than Los Angeles, It springs from lost ATLANTIS; up to where the Angels play; And no sparrow falls unheeded, it's in Doug's Cormnunique.

He used to say, HAnd vii th God t s helpu, but lately it has seemed That his patience is exhausted, and God's on his second team. And the Cabots and the Lodges, too, have lon~ ceased to pray That they'll even squeeze a byline into Doug's Communique. And while possibly a rumor now, someday it will be fact That the Lord will hear a deep voice say. "Move over God, itt s 11ac." , So bet your shoes that all the news, that last great Judgement Day, Vlill go to press in nothing less than Doug's COLrraunique. ! IS /} C/f8/?T£/{ /IIlE/VJ,8EI( OF TH/Lr CLC/8/ THE COMMONWEALTH Of EXECUTIVE DEPARTM ENT STATE HOUSE,

LEVERETT SALTONSTALL GOVERNOR January 3, 1944

Lt. Commander Harold E. stassen, USNR. Staff Commanding South Pacific Force c/o Fleet Post Office San Franc is co, Cal ifornia Dear Harold: You were a good fellow to write, and your letter of the 21st was received on the ~rd of January.

I hear about you from time to time from several friends of yours who have been here in Massachusetts, notably • S. Rosenberry and Dana stone. Dana Stone has invited me to speak to the Republicans in St. Paul on Febru­ ary 16th, and I plan to go' out to do so. Needless to say I appreciate being asked. Things are going along here about the same. However, wi th our Labor troubles increasing here in assa­ chusetts we have been kept busy, but we are still the second state in the Union in the number of Army-Navy liE's". There is much discussion about delegates to the Republican Convention, but I hope they will go unpledged and I believe they will. Great war news in the last few days. Let us pray that it keeps up. The best of luck to you, and thanks for writing. Sincerely yours,

~ .... r ... '~· Leverett Saltonstall Governor of the Commonwealth IS :sd STATE OF OHIO OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR COLUMBUS 15

JOHN W.BRICKER

G OVERNOR

January Thir d 191.; 4

H. E. Stassen, Lieutenant Commander USNR Staff Commander South Pacific c/o Fleet Post Office San Francisco, California

Dear Harold:

It pleases me very much to hear from you . You are often the subject of conversation, at t he Gove rnors I meetings anc the Council. We are all very proud 0 you . I hope for you the very best year ever.

I talked to your campaign manager in New York but did not get to see him. I appreciated his calling. The New York newspapermen were also talking about you .

Yours sincerely,

JVlB/fb STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE CHAM BERS HARTFORD

RAYMOND E . BALDWIN GOV ERNOR

January 4 , 1944 .

My dear Harold: It was mi ghty nice to get your Christ­ mas message . Th is note is t o convey my heartiest greetings and best wishes to you and to your good family too . My thoughts often turn your way, par­ ticularly as we are enteri n g now this national election y ear . I am pleased to see much favorable comm ent about you across the country. What the Convention may bring forth remains still in doubt . I wish I could feel t he optimism about a Republican victory that many here feel . With kindest personal regards and best wishe s , I am Yours very sincerely , thif~ C Lt . Commander Harold E. Stassen, USNR Staff Co~~ an d er South Pacific For ce c/o Fleet Post Office San Francisco , California. EVERETT M. DIRKSEN COMMITTEES: 16TH DIST. ILLINOIS ApPROPRIATIONS OISTFUCT OF CoLUMBIA WENDEU. E. CABLE SECRETARY ~ongre55 of tbe 1Jniteb ~tate5 ~ouse of !\epresentatibes .a~ington, J). t:.

Pekin, Ill. Jan. 5 , 1944.

Harold E. Stassen, Lt. Comdr USNR Staff, Commander South Pacific Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Harold:

Your letter was eventful . I noticed that it was written on the shortest day of the year and arrived on my birthday- January 4th. It has been an enjoyable holiday season, notwithstanding the fact that the war psychosis is upon the people and apprehension over anticipated casualties has made a deep impression. I noticed it yesterday v/hile attend­ ing a farm sale and talking with farmers . Let us hope that not too far in the future , the European show \'.1. 11 vlind up and that thereafter we can make short shrift of the Jap enemies. Last week, about 25 of the old Minnesota fell ow s including six old classmates of mine foregathered for lunch at the LaSalle in Chicago. It proved to be a genuinely pleasant fellowship. Jake was present and I was happy to note that he had entirely recovered from his recent attack of the "flu" . On J anu ary 19th, I shall be in s t . Paul to address the Uinnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Governor Thye is also on the dinner program a nd I expect to visit with him and many of your friends . Ha ve not talked to Tib for several weeks and will probably call h im before I go to s t . aul. Political interes t is sloV! in gettinv started. There i s of course newspaper speculation and some di~cussion but not in proportion t o the importance of 1944 in the scheme of things . I presume i t will be- gin to warm up with in the next month or t wo. I expect to a ttend the National Corrnnittee meeting in Chicago on the 10th and 11th of Janu8ry. Selection of t he Convention City will be regarded as a test of strength betwe en various forces . EVERETT M. DIRKSEN COMMI1TEES: 16TH DIST. ILLINOIS APPROPRIATIONS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WENDELL E. CABLE SECRETARY ~ongrt55 of tbt I1nittb 6tatt5 .OUSt of !\tprtJtntatibtJ • ...,fngton. D. €.

Most serious controversy of the moment is that which developed as a result of the "anonymous" statement by an administration spokesman that the rail and coal and steel strikes or threatened strikes have deferred victory by six months. This has kicked up a lively discussion and generated a r ood deal of hostility toward the administration. A few more of such incidents will make a Republican victory as inevitable as the Judgment Day. Congress reconvenes on the lOth. A host of con­ troversial items must be disposed. There is the Discharge Pay Bill for ~en in the Armed Forces, the Soldier Vote Bill, the Farm Subsidy Bill, a Farm Labor Bill, the Truman Crosser Bill to provide for wage increases for railroad men notwithstanding the administration action taken by Stabilizer Vinson, and a number of others. It promises to be a lively' time on the Congressional Front. Let me hope that this finds you in fine fettle and excellent spirit. I!ty best vlishes attend you wherever duty may lead. Sincerely, J ~ " .~... " '- ~ - '--~ , <.

~ ..

..~~ STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER ALBANY THOMAS E.DEWEY GOVERNOR January 8, 1944.

Harold E. Stassen, Lieutenant Commander, U.S.M.R., Staff Commander South pacifi c Force, Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, california. Dear Harold: Many thanks for your nice note of December 21st and for your Holiday Greetlng's I · which Mrs. Dewey and I appreciate very much.

r ~ Not so long a go I saw some of your friends who were in New York and they handled themselves exceedingly w~ll. Doctor Radabaugh made the appointmen.t and I wrote h~ only a I ! few days ago of my ·very great pleasure at I ~ meeting with them. I It is too bad that you have not been able to visit the recently, and I do hope you will have a leave during the spring. It wou1 ~ be grand to see you. In the meanwhile, I hope things are going wel;L with you in the service and that your family are all well and happy.

With warm personal regards, I am Since rely your s ,

TED:CM January 18, 1944

De h.r Commander:

It was very thoughtful of you t o think of us at t he holiday season and your gr eetings were very much appre­ ciated by the Langli e family.

This New Year pr omises t o be one of unprecedented '. acti vity. As you know, the states have been giving careful study of late t o t he call ing of special session to provide means of implementing the vote of those in service. To date the congress has not clarif ied its attitude, but some decision should be reached soon which would assist the states in deter­ mining their course of action.

Governor Warren was a visitor in our state last week, coming to Seattle t o participate in a coast-.vide confer­ ence on O. C. D. It is anticipated t her e will be tremendous activity here when the main theatre of operations is shifted to t he Pacific. The Governor spent several days in the state and was wHrmly welcomed on every hand. We enjoyed having him with us.

It has been encouraging to observe--almost feel- - the resurgent spirit of the Republicans. You will be interested t o know that in what had been a strong democratic area for some years, fifteen hundred enthusiastic people gathered last November to hear Er i c Johnston at a dinner meeting sponsored by t he Pierce County Republicans. is scheduled to speak in the same city on February li. The time will be short between now, t he convention and our advanced primary date. I know how much you would like t o be in pitching with us at this time and we shall certainly miss you.

Our continuing good wishes to you and yours and I sin­ cerely hope that as we Vlo rk with renewed hope and vision for compl ete Victory and enduring Peace, good health, happiness and success may be yours.

Lieutenant Commander Harold E. stassen, U. S. N. R. Staff Commander South Pacific c/o Fleet Post Off~ce . San Francisco, Callfornla j5tCtt~ ltf QJalif~ GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SACRAMENTO 04,.

EARL WARREN GOVERN OR e.;T'=ll1upr'Tc...... _J -,~O lC),)/-1~1

Lieut . Co mmander Harold ~te~se r , U. S . N. R. Stoff Comp8Dv , SoUtll Pac::' fic ~ ' J ~p.t-- ·oot;.:- +- Of'f"l" c/o . , _,~"v ~ •.;1 v ... _ ..c,_ e San Franctsco , California Dear Barold : It pleased me very much to r e ­ ceive your tolid,-<..Y ~ rpetlngc from the Sout~ ?acj~:fj.c .

Hy secretary t OJ.(l rr8 t 'nat you phone d wh en you were in San Francisco, but understood that vou were there for onl.y a few hours tl1e1'83.f ter, a.nd that I could not reach Y;-lU . I W8.S very sorry to il::lSS the oppo rt t.;.n1t:. ~ for' 8 c ~r: ~. t .

lvlrs . ~·;ar]:'en jotns lEe j_Yl send1D:2; () UY' ['est v,istJe~ for the Ne;, Yeer. /,e hO;:J e the. t your dut 1(;8 td.l l iJri. n EZ von uack to - the u~ ited states and ttat~~~ may have ' an opportunity t o see you.

Sincerel;'l,

Governor

WHY- "Yours for Stassen" l' Because I want our next President to be an bonest, able, fortbright man, with experience as a public adminis­ trator; sound financial judgment; proven ability to balance the rights of labor and industry; disregard for "deals" or "blocs" of any sort, and witb the qualities of a ereat personal leader. Also, because be is the one available Republican candidate wbo bas worked out and made public, as a basis for consideration, a common­ sense post-war program tbat makes allowance for buman nature, wbile serving the interests of bis native land_ If you w,ill look into the record of Harold E. Stassen, wbo resigned dur­ ing bis third term as Governor of Minnesota to enter tbe service, and now is with the Navy in the South Pacific, I think you'll be for him, too, and sign all your letters as I am, ...... Yours for Stassen * * * * * * * *